JPH0353338Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a beverage extraction device that extracts an extract from raw material powder such as coffee powder through hot water.

(Prior art) Recently, as seen in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-38994, a device of this type used in vending machines, etc. pressurizes and compresses coffee powder, which is a raw material, and compresses it into coffee powder in this state. A method has been developed that extracts the extract through boiling water. That is, coffee powder is stored in a cylinder, this coffee powder is pressurized by a piston installed in the cylinder, hot water is supplied to this pressurized coffee powder, and this hot water is flowed out through an overfill to extract the coffee powder. It is designed to extract. This is because if the coffee powder is in an uncompressed state, hot water may pass through the coffee powder in a short circuit, which is disadvantageous for effective extraction of the extract, but if the coffee powder is compressed, This has the advantage that the hot water permeates the coffee powder evenly and comes into good contact with the coffee powder, allowing the extract to be extracted effectively and saving raw material powder.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, when hot water is supplied to compressed coffee powder, the resistance of the coffee powder increases due to pressurization, and a large back pressure acts on the piston due to steam pressure. The piston, which pressurizes using a spring force, is pushed back in the opposite direction to the pressurizing direction, and as a result, the compressed state of the coffee powder becomes loose, making it difficult to achieve the intended purpose. This also affects when the coffee grounds after extract extraction are pushed out of the cylinder and disposed of, and the whole coffee grounds are not disposed of properly, and some of them tend to crumble and scatter around, making it unsanitary. I become confused.

Therefore, it may be possible to configure the piston to be lowered and locked in a fixed position without using the biasing force of the spring, but the amount of coffee powder stored in the cylinder is not always constant.
Particularly in the case of machines installed in vending machines, a single extraction device is used for several types of coffee raw material powder, and it is important to determine the grinding particle size of the raw material and the depth of roasting. There will be a difference in the amount of raw material powder thrown into the cylinder depending on the situation, so if the amount of coffee powder thrown into the cylinder is small, simply setting the downward pressurizing position of the piston and locking it will cause a difference.
It becomes difficult to pressurize it sufficiently. Also,
If the piston is continuously pressed using an extremely strong spring, it is possible to maintain sufficient pressure at all times regardless of the amount of coffee powder mentioned above, but in this case, the related parts also Not only is it necessary to have a structure strong enough to overcome the strong spring force, but the life of the device may be significantly shortened due to the strong spring force.

The present invention was developed with this point in mind, and its purpose is to maintain the compressed state of the raw material powder without using a particularly strong spring and without being affected by the amount of raw material powder input. To provide a beverage brewing device which can always maintain the extract effectively and extract the extract effectively at all times, and which can hygienically and accurately dispose of raw material powder slag after extraction.

[Structure of the invention] (Means for solving the problem) The present invention stores raw material powder in a cylinder, pressurizes this raw material powder with a piston biased by a spring, and pressurizes the raw material powder in this pressurized state. In devices that supply boiling water and extract its extract, there is a cam body that is driven in one direction and rotationally displaced, and a swinging lever that moves a piston connected to one end up and down in conjunction with the displacement of the cam body. a spring that applies a tensile force provided on the rocking lever to bias the piston in the direction of pressurizing the raw material powder; a locking body that operates, the locking body engages the swinging lever during the extraction operation of the extract, and prevents the piston from moving in a direction opposite to the direction in which the material is pressurized;
This is done so that the engagement is released after extraction.

(Function) With raw material powder loaded and stored in the cylinder,
When the cam body rotates, the swing lever swings downward under the biasing force of the spring, and the piston moves down inside the cylinder and collides with the raw material powder. The raw material powder is moved downward to be pressurized by the urging force of a spring applied via a swing lever, so even if the amount of raw material powder in the cylinder fluctuates, it can be appropriately pressurized and compressed. I can do it. Moreover, under this pressurized state, the locking body is engaged and held by the swinging lever and prevents the piston from moving in the opposite direction to the material pressurizing direction, so it resists the biasing force of the spring when hot water is supplied. This prevents the piston from being pushed back inadvertently even if the steam pressure of

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a fuselage body, and a pair of side plates 2, 2 are mounted on the fuselage body 1, facing each other, via screws 3, respectively. A pedestal 4 is placed on the top of the aircraft 1.
The pedestal 4 has a funnel-shaped outlet 5, and a transparent member 6 such as a wire mesh is stretched over the upper opening of the outlet 5, and packing 7 is provided around the periphery of the opening. is installed. pedestal 4
A receiver 8 is provided below, and this receiver 8 is connected via a flexible hose 10 to a trough 9 shown in FIG.
1 is provided. An arm 12 is provided at the other end of the body 1, and one end of the arm 12 is rotatably supported via a pin 13. A take-up roll 14 is rotatably attached to the free end of the arm 12, and the circumferential surface of the take-up roll 14 is elastically attached to the circumferential surface of the drive roll 16 via a spring 15 stretched on the arm 12. It is pressed. Reference numeral 17 denotes a filter tape pulled out from a roll-shaped winding portion, and this filter tape 17 is attached to the pedestal 4.
It contacts the upper surface of the guide roll 18 and the top of the peeling body 19 bent at an acute angle, and is latched onto the take-up roll 14 by passing between the take-up roll 14 and the drive roll 16.

A cylinder 20 whose upper and lower end surfaces are open is provided between the side plates 2 and 2 so as to be able to move up and down, and this cylinder 20 has pins 21 on both outer surfaces.
1 and 21 are slidably fitted into guides 22 and 22 provided on the inner surfaces of the respective side plates 2 and 2, and the opening at the lower end of this cylinder 20 is normally inserted into the pedestal 4 with the filter tape 17 in between. It is joined to packing 7. Inside the cylinder 20, a piston 23 for pressurizing the raw material powder is slidably disposed, and via an O-ring 24, the inside of the slidable piston 20 is kept liquid-tight. This piston 23 is provided with a rod 25 on its upper surface and has a recess 26 formed on its lower surface.
A transparent member 27 such as a wire mesh is stretched over the opening surface. A flexible hot water supply hose 28 is arranged so as to face the inside of the recess 26 from the top surface of the piston 23.
is inserted. Further, pins 29, 29 are provided protruding from both outer surfaces of the rod 25, and these pins 29
9, 29 are slidably fitted into guides 30, 30 provided on the inner surface of each side plate 2, 2, and the piston 23
is formed to move up and down along these guides 30, 30.

Furthermore, a pair of first levers 31, 31 for vertically moving the cylinder 20 and second levers 32, 32 for vertically moving the piston 23 are provided between the side plates 2, 2. . These first and second levers 31, 31,
32, 32 are rotatably supported at one end by support shafts 33, 34 installed between the side plates 2, 2, respectively. Further, long engagement grooves 35, 35 and 36, 36 are formed at the other ends of these levers 31, 31 and 32, 32 along the respective longitudinal directions. Then, the pin 21 of the cylinder 20 is inserted into the engagement grooves 35, 35 of the first levers 31, 31.
21 is the engagement groove 36 of the second lever 32, 32,
The pins 29, 29 of the piston 23 are engaged with the pins 36, respectively. The first levers 31, 31 are elastically urged upward in the figure by a spring 37, and the second levers 32, 32 are elastically urged downward in the figure by a spring 38, respectively. Further, a drive shaft 39 that rotates in one direction in conjunction with a drive source such as a motor (not shown) is inserted between the side plates 2, 2.
This drive shaft 39 has first, second, and third cam bodies 4.
0, 41, 42, etc., a locking body 4 that locks and holds the piston 23 in that position when pressurizing the raw material powder.
3 are fixedly attached to each other. The periphery of the first cam body 40 is connected to the first levers 31, 31.
The peripheral edge of the second cam body 41 is in contact with a receiving pin 44 provided on the second lever 32, 32, respectively, and is biased by the springs 37, 38. each lever 3
The vertical swinging motion of the levers 31, 32, 32 is caused by the urging force of the springs 37, 38, etc., depending on the operating rotation angle of each cam body 40, 41 that is in contact with the lever 31, 31, 32, 32. It is becoming regulated in conjunction with this.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a fan-shaped gear provided corresponding to the third cam body 42. This fan-shaped gear 46 is rotatably supported via a support shaft 47 provided in the middle thereof, and has a meshing surface at one end. 48 and a receiving pin 49 at the other end. This fan-shaped gear 46 is biased clockwise in the figure by a spring 50, and this bias causes one side edge of the gear to come into contact with a stopper 51, thereby positioning the receiving pin 49 on the trajectory of the third cam body 42. I'm letting you do it. Reference numeral 52 denotes a support shaft, and a pinion 53 and a sprocket 54 are provided on this support shaft 52, and the pinion 53 meshes with the meshing surface 48 of the fan-shaped gear 46. This pinion 53 is connected to a sprocket 54 via a one-way clutch (not shown), and transmits rotational motion to the sprocket 54 only when rotating clockwise in the figure, and rotates idly in the counterclockwise direction. . Also, the sprocket 54 has ratchet teeth 5.
5 is provided, and a ratchet pawl 56 that engages with the ratchet teeth 55 is supported via a support shaft 57, and the engagement of these two causes the sprocket 54 to
, that is, rotation in the counterclockwise direction in the figure is prevented. and sprocket 54
An interlocking chain 58 is stretched between the drive roll 16 and the above-mentioned drive roll 16 provided on the machine body 1.

On the other hand, the locking body 4 attached to the drive shaft 39
3 is formed into a fan shape, and a locking piece 59 that is bent at right angles is integrally provided on the arcuate peripheral edge.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a shooter that guides raw material powder, that is, coffee powder, supplied from a raw material container (not shown) to the cylinder 20. This shooter 60 rotates via a support shaft 61 provided at the upper end of one side thereof. freely supported. A hooking piece 62 is attached to the upper end of the other side of the shooter 60 and abuts against the upper surface of the free end side of the second levers 32, 32.
An outlet port 63 is formed at the lower end of the tube. A notch 64 is formed in the upper side of the cylinder 20, and the outlet 63 of the shooter 60 is inserted through this notch 64.
faces inside the cylinder 20.

Next, the operation will be explained. When an extract extraction command is issued from the standby state shown in FIG. It is introduced into the cylinder 20 through the outlet 63 [FIG. 6A]. After this, the drive shaft 39 rotates clockwise by a certain angle, and each cam body 4
0, 41, 42 and the locking body 43 are respectively displaced. The second cam body 41 acts as a swinging lever that controls the vertical movement of the piston 23 by the displacement of the second cam body 41.
The levers 32, 32 are rotated about the support shaft 34 by the urging force of the spring 38, and the piston 23 is moved downward in conjunction with this, pressurizing and compressing the coffee powder a in the cylinder 20 [see FIG. ]. On this occasion,
Since the piston 23 is continuously pressed by the urging force of the spring 38 applied via the second levers 32 and 32 as swing levers, the amount of coffee powder a introduced into the cylinder 20 Even if there is a fluctuation in the amount, the coffee powder a is always accurately pressurized by the piston 23 regardless of the fluctuation. Note that when the piston 23 descends, the hooking piece 62 of the shooter 60 descends together with the second levers 32, 32, and the shooter 60
The outlet port 63 is rotated clockwise using the
is removed from the notch 64 of the cylinder 20. Further, the locking body 43 is connected to the second lever 32, 32.
As it rotates downward, the locking piece 59 of the locking body 43 is positioned above the receiving pin 45 and engaged with the receiving pin 45, as shown in FIG. .

Under this condition, a predetermined amount of hot water heated to, for example, 95°C or higher and pressurized to about 10 kg/cm ² is supplied through the hose 28 to the coffee powder a in the cylinder 20, and this hot water is used to make the coffee powder. The extract of coffee powder a is extracted into the outlet 5 of the pedestal 4 through the filter tape 17.
It is introduced into the receiver 8 from this outlet 5. The receiver 8 is connected to the trough 9 via a hose 10,
Since the middle of the hose 10 is closed with a pinch valve 11, the extract is temporarily stored in the receiver 8 until the extraction is sufficiently completed. and receiver 8
After the extract is sufficiently stored in the trough 9, the pinch valve 11 is opened and the extract is introduced into the trough 9 at once as shown in FIG. At this time, sugar or milk is added into the trough 9 via nozzles 65, 66 according to preference, and these are mixed into the extract. The amount of extract extracted from the filter tape 17 is small, so if it is introduced into the trough 9 one after another as it is, sufficient mixing with sugar and milk will not be achieved. In this example,
Since the extract is temporarily stored and is introduced to the trough 9 at once after reaching a sufficient amount, mixing with sugar and milk is carried out sufficiently and reliably. The extract obtained in this way is prepared in advance as a coffee drink.
It is supplied as a coffee drink in pre-prepared cups.

When hot water is supplied to the compressed coffee powder a in the cylinder 20, a large upward force is applied to the piston 23 due to the steam pressure of the hot water.
At this time, if the force causes the piston 23 to move upward in the direction opposite to the direction in which the material is pressurized, the compression of the coffee powder will be insufficient and the intended purpose will not be achieved. However, in this embodiment, the second lever body 3 as a swinging lever connected to the piston 23
A locking body 4 is attached to the upper part of the receiving pin 45 provided at 2 and 32.
The locking pieces 59 of No. 3 are configured to engage with each other,
For this reason, the piston 23 is restrained by the locking body 43 and does not move in any way, so that the coffee powder a is always kept in a sufficiently compressed state and the extract can be effectively extracted from the coffee powder a. Therefore, there is no need for the spring 38 to be particularly strong.

After the extraction of the extract is completed, the drive shaft 39 further rotates clockwise by a certain angle, and each cam 40, 41,
42 and the locking body 43 are respectively displaced. At this time, first, due to the displacement of the first cam 40, the first levers 31, 31 rotate upward about the support shaft 33 due to the biasing force of the spring 37, and the cylinder 20 rises accordingly. At the beginning of this rise, the piston 23 is at rest, so the cylinder 20
The coffee grounds a′ that remained inside the cylinder 20
As the locking body 43 rises, it is relatively detached from the cylinder 20 [FIG. 32 from the receiving pin 45. After this, the second levers 32 and 3 are moved by the displacement of the second cam 41.
2 rotates upward against the biasing force of the spring 38, and accordingly, the piston 23 rises integrally with the cylinder 20 [FIG. 2D]. In this way, the slag
When the area around a' is opened, the sector gear 46 is rotated by the displacement of the third cam 42. That is, the third cam 42 contacts the receiving pin 45, and in response to this contact, the sector gear 46 rotates counterclockwise against the spring 50. This rotation causes the pinion 53 that meshes with the meshing teeth 48 to rotate clockwise, and this movement is transmitted to the drive roll 16 through the sprocket 54 and the interlocking chain 58, causing the drive roll 16 to rotate clockwise and the drive roll 16 to rotate clockwise. The winding rolls 14 that are in pressure contact with each other rotate counterclockwise. Take-up roll 14
As the filter tape 17 rotates, the filter tape 17 is sequentially moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Then, the slag a' left on the pedestal 4 moves in the direction of the arrow along with the filter tape 17 due to the movement of the filter tape 17.
The top of the pedestal 4 becomes vacant [Fig. 6 E]. After this, the first lever 31 rotates downward due to the displacement of the first cam 40, and along with this rotation, the cylinder 20 descends.
The opening at the lower end of this cylinder 20 is joined to the packing 7 of the pedestal 4 with the filter tape 17 interposed therebetween.
Further, the fan-shaped gear 46 is reversed clockwise by the biasing force of the spring 50 and comes into contact with the stopper 51.
Through the above steps, each member returns to its original state, one stroke of the extraction operation is completed, and the next extraction operation is awaited.

By repeating this extraction operation, the filter tape 17 is sequentially wound onto the take-up roll 14. With this winding, the winding diameter increases sequentially, and accordingly, the arm 12 rotates clockwise against the spring 15, and the winding roll 14 is sequentially displaced.
In this way, the winding diameter of the filter tape 17 gradually increases, but the winding roll 14 that winds the filter tape 17 itself is rotatable with respect to the arm 12, and the winding power is provided by the drive roll 16. Therefore, regardless of the increase in the winding diameter, the filter tape 17 is always pulled off with a constant force. Therefore, the pulling force may be too strong and the filter tape 17 may be damaged, or conversely, the pulling force may be too weak. This prevents the amount of filter tape 17 from being insufficient, and the filter tape 17 can always be accurately taken and moved by a certain amount.

As described above, the slag a' released from the cylinder 20 is sufficiently pressurized within the cylinder 20, becomes moist during the extraction operation, and is solidified into a cork-like state. , there is no possibility that a part of it will collapse and scatter around it when it is pushed out from the cylinder 20, and it will be transferred in the direction of the arrow as the filter tape 17 moves while maintaining its solidified state, and will be transferred to the guide roll. When passing through 18, the waste is disposed of in a waste section 67 below it. Therefore, the slag a' can be disposed of accurately and the surrounding area can be kept clean at all times. Even if some of the slag a' remains on the filter tape 17 being transferred, it is peeled off when the filter tape 17 passes the top of the peeling body 19 bent at an acute angle and disposed of in the waste section 67. be done.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a locking portion 71 is formed protruding from the end of the swinging lever body 32 connected to the piston 23. In addition, a locking rod 72 as a locking body 43 that locks the piston 23 in that position when pressurizing the raw material powder is provided in parallel with this swinging lever body 32, and this locking rod 72 is an intermediate support. It is rotatably supported via a shaft 73, and has a receiving pin 74 at one end and an abutting portion 75 at the other end.
have. Further, the drive shaft 39 is provided with a cam body 41 that slides into contact with the receiving pin 45 of the swinging lever body 32, and a cam body 76 that slides into contact with the receiving pin 74 of the locking rod 72.

Now, when the cam body 41 rotates, the swing lever body 32 rotates downward about the support shaft 34 by the urging force of the spring 38, and the piston 23
The coffee powder a in the cylinder 20 is pressurized by this. At this time, the other cam body 76 also rotates integrally with the cam body 41 and presses the receiving pin 74 of the locking rod 72, and this pressing force causes the locking rod 72 to rotate counterclockwise in the figure. The contact portion 75 abuts the locking portion 71 of the swing lever body 32, and thereby the swing lever body 3
2 is restrained and the piston 23 is fixed, so that the piston 23 will not move inadvertently due to steam pressure or the like.

In addition, in each of the above examples, the case of extracting coffee powder extract was explained, but
It goes without saying that the same method can be used to extract extracts from other raw material powders.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to the invention, the urging force of the spring is transmitted to the piston via the swing lever to pressurize the raw material powder, and the piston is moved to its position when the raw material powder is pressurized. In order to securely support the piston, we have provided a locking body that engages and disengages from the swing lever, so the piston will not be accidentally pushed back due to the steam pressure when supplying hot water to extract the extract of the raw powder.
Therefore, even without using a particularly strong spring, it is possible to reliably maintain the compressed state of the raw material powder and extract the extract effectively at all times. This has the effect of keeping the surrounding area clean when disposing of the waste. Furthermore, the piston collides with the raw material powder based on the biasing force of the spring and pressurizes the raw material powder, so that even if the amount of the raw material powder varies, it can be appropriately pressurized and compressed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram, Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the main part, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the trough, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the mechanism part that locks the swing lever, 6A, 6A, 6B, 6A, 6B, and 7C are cross-sectional views showing one step of the extraction operation in order, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing another embodiment of the present invention. 20...Cylinder, 23...Piston, 32...
...Second lever as a swinging lever, 38...Spring, 41...Second cam as a cam body,
43...Latching body, 71...Latching part, 73...Latching rod as a locking body.

Claims (1)

[Claim for Utility Model Registration] Raw material powder is stored in a cylinder, this raw material powder is pressurized by a piston biased by a spring, and hot water is supplied to this pressurized raw material powder to extract its extract. A cam body that is rotationally displaced by being driven in one direction, a swing lever that moves a piston connected to one end up and down in conjunction with the displacement movement of the cam body, and a swing lever that moves a piston connected to one end up and down in conjunction with the displacement movement of the cam body, and A spring provided on the rocking lever to apply a tensile force to bias the piston, and a locking body that engages and disengages from the rocking lever in conjunction with the rotational displacement operation of the cam body, This locking body engages the rocking lever during extract extraction, prevents the piston from moving in the opposite direction to the direction of pressurizing the raw material, and acts to release the engagement after extraction. A beverage extraction device featuring: